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Chapter 97: Pathfinder
Early the next morning, discussions about the Saturday second-hand goods auction became the focal point of public attention.
Despite the economic downturn and high unemployment rates, the level of consumption did not retreat and could not retreat. This made the needs of many households perpetually relegated to plans that might never materialize.
In fact, even in the past, in Sabin City, and throughout the entire federation, there were places for second-hand goods transactions. In some alleys in the lower income area, people would dispose of things stolen from elsewhere at a cheap price, with clothing being a more prevalent item.
Antique shops often accepted relatively newer second-hand goods, and besides antique shops, there were small shops specifically dealing with the recycling of used appliances and genuine pawn shops.
However, pawn shops in the Baylor Federation were not comparable to those in another world. In the Baylor Federation, pawn shops only dealt in luxury items. They had no interest in deals worth only a few bucks.
So, the entire second-hand goods trading industry was still in a semi-desolate stage, with many people yet to realize the potential wealth within. This provided Lynch with an opportunity to benefit.
The large-scale second-hand goods auction organized by Lynch yesterday was unprecedented in federal history, instantly capturing the attention of the public.
The core that attracted everyone's attention mainly consisted of two parts. The first part was that everyone wanted to find out whether Lynch's second-hand goods auction truly had everything, with a wide variety and affordable prices, as reported in the newspapers. The second point of interest was the transaction amount from yesterday, which almost reached half a million!
This sum would be taxed, and Lynch had no intention of hiding it. He generously provided the newspaper, including the tax authorities, with the true information, shocking the entire Sabin City.
In such a difficult economic time, achieving half a million in transactions in one afternoon raised questions about how much they had sold and for how much.
Regardless of the external discussions and speculations, one fact remained unaltered. Lynch's Interstellar Trading Company, and this second-hand goods auction, suddenly became popular, bringing the city's mayor into the spotlight as well.
The lunch originally scheduled for the day after tomorrow was also moved forward to Sunday noon by the mayor.
The mayor had planned to spend a happy weekend with his family. However, Lynch's surprise compelled him to set aside some time at noon to deal with these matters.
Their lunch unfolded in a discreet venue, a common feature spanning from rural areas to the heart of the federation. These spaces offered a convenient setting for individuals to engage in confidential discussions at any time and place.
It was a simple lunch. Lynch arrived ten minutes early at the agreed location, and the mayor arrived shortly after.
The mayor, in his forties this year, had slightly graying hair, appearing somewhat worn out. His physique was somewhat chubby, not exactly fat but fuller than a normal figure. He was approximately five feet seven inches tall, not considered short in this era.
He gave off an impression of being strict but also seemed easy-going. Introduced by Ferrall, the two exchanged pleasantries, officially acknowledging their acquaintance.
Ferrall took the initiative to instruct the chef to prepare food for them, deliberately giving these two the space they needed.
The mayor took out a cloth bag from his pocket containing a beautiful pipe with golden wooden patterns, giving a luxurious feel.
"Mind if I smoke?" The mayor asked. It wasn't until he saw Lynch shaking his head that he loaded the pipe with tobacco and took a couple of puffs after lighting it, visibly unwinding.
"I like this, even though some people say they're unhealthy," he chuckled. The conversation quickly shifted from the pipe to yesterday's events. "Today, my original plan was to be with my children, but when I saw the news this morning, honestly, I was quite shocked."
"Half a million in transactions; you might have created history." The mayor did not hold back his words of praise. After the news came out, his aides also gathered in his study to discuss the auction.
In their eyes, a transaction amount of half a million was roughly equivalent to satisfying the material needs of at least a million thor(索尔) in the lower strata. Thor was the unit of the federal currency, and coincidentally, Thor was also the name of the person who founded the federation and served as its first president.
People hailed him as a hero, and to commemorate this figure, after nationwide discussions, it was decided to feature his portrait on banknotes.
People would refer to money as Thor. However, this was a more formal designation; in everyday life, nobody would rigidly say something as awkward as "one Federal Thor." They would simply refer to it as “one buck."
A million federal thor, when evenly distributed, might not sound outlandish, yet when considering yesterday afternoon's second-hand goods auction meeting the short-term material needs of ten thousand families in Sabin City, it transformed into a rather sobering statistic.
Through additional processing and policy guidance, it could even be said that the second-hand goods trade, championed by the municipal government and the esteemed mayor, had greatly met the aspirations and longings for a better life among the underprivileged in Sabin City, and successfully alleviated potential social conflicts, which was undeniably a noteworthy accomplishment!
He and his aides had not anticipated that Lynch could do so well. It exceeded everyone's expectations. Other matters could be delayed, but those related to his personal interests couldn't.
Lynch expressed humility, saying, "I owe my achievements to the open market environment in Sabin City, as well as the local policies that are supportive and welcoming towards new initiatives. Especially, your assistance has been instrumental in this regard."
He flattered the mayor shamelessly, making the mayor wear a more substantial smile on his face. The mayor had met plenty of shameless businessmen before. However, meeting someone like Lynch, who could talk in a way that made him feel like he truly was an exceptional entrepreneur, was a first for him. Suddenly, he found Lynch to be a fascinating individual, at least someone who knew how to articulate himself very well.
This was also the primary reason they had moved up the meeting time. The mayor aimed to present Lynch and his business as an accomplishment driven by the local government. Such a portrayal would inevitably invite scrutiny from various quarters. Hence, maintaining consistency in statements between him and Lynch was crucial. This ensured that both parties could anticipate benefits and helped prevent the emergence of scandals or troubles.
He initially thought Lynch, being a young person, might not be very easy to talk to. After all, young people often believed that the world would stop turning without them. Surprisingly, unlike an ordinary kid from an average family, Lynch turned out to be remarkably understanding, catching him off guard.
Transforming from an observer to a leader, even though it was the mayor's initial idea, the smoothness of it made him feel somewhat guilty. However, it was just a tiny bit, a negligible bit.
Holding the pipe, he pointed out, "I heard you plan to expand your business throughout the entire state?"
Lynch nodded calmly. "Inspired by the charisma of the esteemed mayor, I believe we should transcend geographical limitations, taking on more social responsibilities. As long as it's something meaningful and good, we should strive to do it."
"Not only will I sell second-hand goods, but I also plan to extensively recycle used goods throughout the state. Items abandoned by people that are currently ineffective and lack value can be put back into circulation through specialized channels. What may be temporarily useless for me could play a crucial role in someone else's life. Through dedicated trade channels, we can meet the material needs of the lower strata without increasing their economic burden."
"Even in times of financial strain, they can sell second-hand goods to alleviate significant pressure on family finances. This will improve the financial and living conditions of millions of families in the next few years. I firmly believe in this!"
As Lynch articulated his thoughts, the mayor continued nodding. There were more thoughts in the mayor's mind, but Lynch's words were also inspirational. If Lynch could accomplish all that he said, there was no doubt it would be a shining political achievement during the mayor's tenure.
After gaining more understanding, the mayor's smile became even more amiable. "Your ideas are excellent. When I was chatting with the governor earlier, he also mentioned the interesting thoughts of young people nowadays. If there's an opportunity, I'll introduce you to him…"
He paused for a moment, then pointedly asked, "How do you view the Federal Progressive Party?"
Lynch expressed his enthusiasm. "It's an outstanding party…"
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